Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win

Monday 18th August, 04:36 PM JST

BEIJING —

Yoshihisa Naruse pitched seven sharp innings striking out 10 batters and Atsunori Inaba broke a scoreless tie with a homer in the fifth inning as Japan edged Canada 1-0 in preliminary action at the Beijing Olympic Games on Monday. Senichi Hoshino’s team improved to 3-2 in the round-robin stage to move a step toward a spot in the semifinals, while Canada suffered its fifth defeat of the tournament. Lotte Marines left-hander Naruse diced up Canada’s lefty lineup allowing just two hits with no walks, mixing in his fastball and slider on the outside corner at Wukesong Baseball Field. Hanshin Tigers closer Kyuji Fujikawa pitched the eighth and Yomiuri Giants pitcher Koji Uehara closed out the ninth.

Canada threatened in the fourth when Emmanuel Garcia got a one-out single followed by a double down the right-field line by Michael Saunders, putting runners at second and third. But Naruse struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Inaba homered over the right-center wall to lead off the next frame to give Japan the lead. Japan almost added another run in the ninth when Masahiko Araki led off with a single and reached third with no outs on a botched pick-off attempt, but reliever Steve Green got out of the jam. Japan will face host China in its next game on Tuesday.

Kyodo

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Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

chibaman at 08:03 PM JST - 18th August

Good thing Japan's catcher wasn't forced to throw a ball to second base.

That would be a real good way to have the game tied. Excellent fielding indeed.
chibaman at 08:07 PM JST - 18th August

Last time I checked Japan was the World Champions.

Back in 2006, for the few days after the World Baseball Classic? Like living in the past much? You've got a dozen or so legitimate questions waiting to be answered on the 5-3 loss thread before you run away to another thread to litter more rubbish.
chibaman at 08:31 PM JST - 18th August

I'm not American, so my carefactor or the pain I'm going through is not as high as you would like. Your thinly-veiled anti-American posts however are verging on the ridiculous, it's much like arguing with a child. Stop wasting everybody's time with the nationalist rhetoric you've been baby-fed and answer the questions on the 5-3 thread.
USNinJapan2 at 08:58 PM JST - 18th August

I almost fell asleep watching this game. The Canadians (US minor league players at best) aren't good by any stretch but the Japanese still had trouble putting them away. Canada had more runners on scoring bases than the Japanese and if it wasn't for the isolated solo HR by Inaba it would probably have become a tie breaker. A win is a win but I certainly wouldn't be proud of this one if I were pulling for Japan...
GW at 09:03 PM JST - 18th August

with Japan scoring so many runs against Cda I wud hazard a guess that both pitchers were mowing them down or neither teams batters are any damn good!
smithinjapan at 11:19 PM JST - 18th August

A 1-0 score is not even close to appropriate to describe with 'mows down'. It was a boring game, but boring because both sides stuck to it and did well in the field, etc.

"Naruse was in a class of his own. Infact the way he pitched he would have been unhittable against anyone and anywhere in the world."

Are you talking about the same Naruse who gave the 2 runs to Cuba for the win against the idiots in 'Hoshino Japan' a few days ago? That's the same Naruse who looked like he crapped his pants and didn't know where to throw the ball when the runner slid safely into home, right? Hahahaha.... Naruse is nothing special. He did well this game, but that's nothing at all to gloat about, since he lost the game for Japan before.

Beating Canada is no great shakes, as Canada can't seem to put their act together and score any runs. I WILL say that Canada had some pretty wicked defense throughout the tournament, and if they could have gotten it together when they were at bat, they would have a much better result than they do now. In fact, most of Canada's losses have been by a single run, and that run was usually a homer and the score 1-0 in favour of the other team, where those same teams had many runs against others. A say a good job on defense, but that's only half the game.

As to team Japan... you're going to get wiped by the US, and have to settle for fourth.
usaexpat at 11:48 PM JST - 18th August

Good win by Japan, tied with the Americans. Much as I suspected it was going to be Japan, The USA, South Korea and Cuba in the finals. That said Cuba and South Korea both have perfect records so it's going to be a tough battle for either the US or Japan. One more thing to settle the sqaubling above, yes the Japanese are the world champions until the next Baseball Classic which made them the champions is held next year. The Olympic players are not all big leagers like the baseball classic though so it's a different kettle of fish.
Good_Jorb at 01:00 AM JST - 19th August

I almost fell asleep watching this game. The Canadians (US minor league players at best) aren't good by any stretch but the Japanese still had trouble putting them away.

The US had just almost as much trouble, with only a 1 point win (5-4).

As a Canadian, I must say I was little surprised, that as a nation where baseball is only a minor sport, we did all right agianst Japan and the States.
hoserfella at 10:37 AM JST - 19th August

Very surprised to see Canada almost upset Japan, but the Canadian manager deserves some heat for stacking his lineup with left handed batters against Naruse, a lefty. In any case, the result doesn't look good for Japan. they stunk almost as bad against a bunch of AA talent
Kijimuna at 11:30 AM JST - 19th August

I heard this was as exciting and tantrum-filled as the US-China game, only without the beans. Anyone with a web link?
RomeoRamenII at 05:28 PM JST - 19th August

hoserfella - True dat. Japan's squad is made up of professional players. This should have been a cakewalk for Team Nippon. Perhaps Japan should have selected high school baseball players to represent their nation.

RR
USNinJapan2 at 12:05 AM JST - 20th August

Looks like Japan slaughtered China today so they're guaranteed a spot in the final rounds. I hope they lose to the US tomorrow just so they have to face Korea again...
chibaman at 12:09 AM JST - 20th August

That could work as strategy actually. Beat America tomorrow and they face Cuba in the semis (yikes, no medal at all), so lose and take their chances with Korea.
USNinJapan2 at 12:53 AM JST - 20th August

You mean like bunting for a bronze medal instead of swinging for the gold? : ) If any team would do that it'd be Japan...
chibaman at 01:10 AM JST - 20th August

The bunt would be obvious too, announced to all before the play even begins.

But I just realised that when (not if) Japan loses it's semi, they have a bronze medal play-off after, so there's no reason (nor excuse) to lose tomorrow's game.